On a sweltering 100°F evening in Phoenix, Arizona’s crypto enthusiasts gathered enthusiastically for the inaugural night of the America Loves Crypto tour.
This tour, spearheaded by the Stand With Crypto Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to mobilizing America’s 52 million crypto owners to participate in the upcoming polls in November, will traverse five pivotal swing states in the following weeks, highlighting the significance of voting for candidates who advocate pro-crypto policies in the forthcoming US elections.
During this Arizona evening, notable figures including Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) and Arizona House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham (R) addressed the crowd alongside founders from the crypto industry, before the stage was set for the vibrant psychedelic soul sounds of the Black Pumas.
The Mission and the Margin
“Our primary objective is to mobilize the crypto vote,” stated Logan Dobson, Executive Director of Stand With Crypto, in an interview with Bitcoin Magazine.
“Our aim is focused solely on crypto. We’re not endorsing specific candidates or particular parties; we’re simply working to increase voter turnout among the crypto community,” he explained.
“And I can confirm that in numerous swing states, the number of individuals registered with Stand With Crypto exceeds the margin of victory from 2020.”
His remark resonates strongly in Arizona, where President Biden surpassed former President Trump by approximately 10,500 votes in the 2020 presidential election. Stand With Crypto has registered nearly three times as many crypto supporters — totaling 27,231 — as the votes that constituted Biden’s margin of victory in that election.
Encouragement from Politicians
Senator Sinema commenced the event, encouraging attendees to candidly support candidates who advocate for pro-crypto policies.
“You all represent a true force in Arizona, and it’s crucial for us to leverage this election cycle to ensure that the crypto community’s voice is amplified,” remarked Senator Sinema.
“We must advocate for policies that foster innovation so that the financial system serves average citizens. We need to guarantee that candidates at all levels — both state and federal — comprehend crypto and are striving for a favorable political atmosphere for the industry, as opposed to one dictated by misinformation, fear, and outdated regulations,” she continued.
Sinema wrapped up her remarks with what appeared to be a subtle criticism of the Democrats, the party she departed from in December 2022.
“Don’t hesitate to back a candidate or elected official willing to take risks,” she emphasized.
“You all recognize the importance of risk-taking. The crypto industry wouldn’t exist without it,” Sinema added.
“We are looking for candidates who are sensible yet ready to take risks and challenge the party line rhetoric that seeks to hinder or delay the progress of this industry.”
Following Sinema, Grantham voiced his support for the freedoms that bitcoin and crypto afford their users.
Grantham was direct from the podium, discussing how politicians are exploiting the US dollar by overspending and printing it indiscriminately. He asserted that it is primarily Gen Z and Millennials who should advocate for pro-crypto politicians to allow assets like bitcoin to compete with the dollar. He was even more candid about this issue during a backstage interview with Bitcoin Magazine.
“A considerable number of elected officials believe that the government holds the key to fixing our monetary issues, that fiscal irresponsibility is inconsequential, and that the dollar will reign supreme forever — which is an absurd perspective,” Grantham criticized.
“One reason [crypto] is gaining traction is due to the current state of the dollar,” he contended.
For this reason, Grantham stressed the need for voters to endorse candidates who do not seek to regulate crypto out of existence and to support those who champion freedom over control.
“This is fundamentally an issue of freedom versus control,” Grantham stated.
“[Some politicians want] to enforce control by tethering everyone to a single currency, obstructing alternatives like crypto. Competition is essential, especially when those in charge of the only existing system misuse it egregiously,” he concluded.
Founders Aren’t Asking For Much
Next, a panel of Arizona-based crypto founders took the stage. The panel included Thor Abbasi, co-founder of the DeFi protocol Zivoe; George Mekhail, VP of Operations for Bitcoin Magazine and co-organizer of the Arizona Bitcoin Network; and Shelton Beascochea, co-founder of DevilsDAO and President of Stand With Crypto’s Arizona Chapter.
The industry leaders requested little more than clear regulatory guidelines from the US government to enable them to operate their businesses domestically and compliantly. In an interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Abbasi shared the concerns crypto founders have faced due to the uneven treatment by federal regulatory bodies under the Biden administration.
“One of the most challenging aspects for our project is understanding how the industry can interact with banks,” Abbasi conveyed to Bitcoin Magazine.
“We’ve likely all heard about Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” he continued, referencing the government’s unconstitutional crackdown on politically unfavorable, yet legal, crypto activities, which led to the debanking of numerous crypto enterprises.
“Having regulations that outline what crypto companies need to do in order to secure banking services would be tremendously helpful.”
Mekhail concluded the discussion portion of the evening on an optimistic note, emphasizing the significant strides made by the crypto industry and the potential for continued growth in the future.
“Consider where we were four years ago,” Mekhail urged.
“We wouldn’t have been able to hold an event like this. The fact that 15% of Americans now own some form of crypto is astonishing, especially when contemplating the future four years from now,” he added.
“We have the momentum on our side. Events like this are crucial as they showcase that we have a voice that matters.”
The second event of the America Loves Crypto tour is set for this evening, September 5, at The Space in Las Vegas, NV. You can RSVP for the event here.
